Forasmuch as the sum, & absolute perfection of all our righteousness, consisteth in the only faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ, without whom all humane power, and puissance is uneffectuall: without whom, no provident policy prevaileth: ne yet any force, or activity of natural operation can bring any thing to pass: no honourable ornament of virtue, no excellency of exquisite learning, is available: according to the testimony of the Lord himself, Without me ye can do nothing: what ought we• silly mortal wretches regard more entirely, then that by due proceeding; in daily renewed increases of this same faith, we not only cleave fast to this Jesus Christ, the assured & undoubted chieftain & Prince of life? And conveying him into the very entrails of our souls, we throughly possess him, as fast enclosed in a certain holy Oratory: but also endeavour ⟨image 4⟩by all means possibly, to be most nearly joined unto him, to be incorporate wholly in him, & made members of his own body? For performance whereof behoveth us, above all other, to be guided by his conduct and coun•el chiefly. Search the Scriptures (saith he) for they bear witness of me. Which saying S. Peter the Apostle doeth verify, advertising us of the same faith: And we have (sayeth he) a more s•re word of the Prophets, whereunto whiles ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, ye do well, until the dawn of the day appear•, & the day star arise in your hearts. Yea, the Lord him self in an other place sendeth us back to the schooling of the Law and the Prophets, as unto infallible precepts, and rules of pure and true doctrine. And albeit I may not deny that testimony of S. Paul to be most true, where he saith, That faith is a gift of God, issuing from his free mercy & bounty: yet doth he not: thereby meanwhiles exclude other lawful and ordinary means, taught for the better attainment thereof. As where he sayeth, Faith cometh by hearing, & hearing by the word of God. So that their error is so much the more blameworthy,1 who contented with that intricate, and confused faith (as they term it) ⟨image 4⟩be of opinion, that to the rude & unlettered people, sufficeth enough to believe those things only, that all other men do believe. But this common faith seemed not sufficient to the ancient fathers, in that purer age of the primitive & Apostolic Church:
FOrasmuch as the summe, & absolute perfection of al our righteousnesse, consisteth in the onely faith and knowledge of Iesu Christ, without whom al humane power, and puyssaunce is vneffectuall: without whome, no prouident policie preuayleth: ne yet any force, or actiuitie of naturall operation can bring any thing to passe: no honorable ornament of vertue, no excellencie of exquisite learning, is auaylable: according to the testimonie of the Lord himselfe, Withou• me ye can do nothing: what ought we• seely mortall wretches regard more entierly, then that by due proceeding; in dayly renewed encreases of this same faith, we not only cleaue fast to this Iesu Christ, the assured & vndoubted chiefetaine & Prince of life? And cōueying him into the very intrailes of our soules, we throughly possesse him, as fast enclosed in a certaine holy Oratorie: but also endeuour ⟨image 4⟩by all meanes possibly, to be most neerely ioyned vnto him, to be incorporate wholly in him, & made members of his owne body? For performance wherof behoueth vs, aboue all other, to be guyded by his conduct and coun•el chiefely. Searche the Scriptures (sayth he) for they beare witnes of me. Which saying S. Peter the Apostle doeth verifie, aduertizing vs of the same faith: And we haue (sayeth he) a more s•re worde of the Prophetes, whereunto whiles yee take heede, as vnto a lyght that shineth in a darke place, ye doe well, vntill the dawne of the day appear•, & the day starre aryse in your hearts. Yea, the Lorde him selfe in an other place sendeth vs backe to the scholing of the Law and the Prophets, as vnto infallible preceptes, and rules of pure and true doctrine. And albeit I may not denye that testimonie of S. Paul to be most true, where he sayth, That faith is a gift of God, yssuing from his free mercy & bountie: yet doth he not: thereby meanewhyles exclude other lawfull and ordinarie meanes, taught for the better attainement thereof. As where he sayeth, Fayth commeth by hearing, & hearing by the word of God. So that their error is so much the more blameworthy,1 who contented with that intricate, and confused faith (as they tearme it) ⟨image 4⟩be of opinion, that to the rude & vnlettered people, sufficeth ynough to beleeue those things onely, that all other men do beleeue. But this common faith seemed not sufficient to the auncient fathers, in that purer age of the primitiue & Apostolique Church:
- 1Fides implicita.
